A Short Introduction To The Philately Of Palestine

Postal Stationery and Miscellanea

This page presents examples of postal stationery and miscellanea.
These are subjects that I have not yet ventured into in detail, so just a few illustrations.

Interestingly enough, cut-outs from postal stationery were allowed to be used to frank letters, cards, &c.; although I have not seen examples of this except pieces of a clearly philatelic nature, like these:

The Postmaster General: Postal Guide 1948

USE OF CUT-OUT POSTAGE STAMPS
Embossed or impressed postage stamps cut out of envelopes, post-cards, Ietter-cards or newspaper wrappers, may be used as adhesive stamps in payment of postage, provided they are not imperfect, mutilated, or de-faced in any way. Stamps indicating the payment of a registration fee may be used only for registered correspondence.

(cited from the Postal Guide 1948, as reprinted in Proud: The Postal History of Palestine. Proud-Bailey, 1985)

This cover has four cut-outs (2, 3, 8 und 13m): Registered letter from Hadera (28.07.1943) to Tel Aviv.
Note that it has the same address in the same handwriting as the example shown above.
Clearly both letters are philatelic in nature!

First letter card issued in August 1927 on blue-gray paper, 140x88mm (folded), with yellow-orange 5 mils feestamp. Subtype with large space (32mm) between coat of arms and the stamp. (H&G A1, Hochh. LC1-3).
Originally the cards supplied by Harrison & Sons, London (H&G AI) only contained English text and had to be individually overprinted at the Greek Orthodox Convent in Jerusalem.

Letter card issued on 10.10.1928 on blue-gray paper, 140x88mm (folded), with 5 mils feestamp and a larger coat of arms (H&G A2a, Hochh. LC2-2).
The slightly changed texts were now correctly printed in all three languages in London. The varieties are based on the distance between the coat of arms and the stamp (here: 32mm). The shown card has also the left edge of the coat of arms lined up with the right edge of the second T in LETTER (Sarkin LC2-2b).

Airgraph (reproduction), 1942. Numerator 164655, used 22.11.1942, Palestine to London.
Danesh/Fletcher Type PAG 1; with short message field and address field (90mm and 20mm respectively in the reproduction)

Airgraph (reproduction), 1942. Numerator 217239, used 3.01.1943, Palestine to London.
Danesh/Fletcher Type PAG 1; with long message field and address field (95mm and 21mm respectively in the reproduction)

Such variations in sizes are caused by the photomechnical technique and changes in the equipment used and do occur regularly with airgraph reproductions.

Airgraph (reproduction), 1943/44. Numerator 12208, used 15.01.1944, Palestine to London. Danesh/Fletcher Type PAG 4d. Censor mark.
This reproduction looks very much like a parallelogram or trapeze; so wide variations in sizes,
caused by the photomechnical technique, may well been a frequent occurrence with airgraph reproductions.

Reverse side of an airgraph form (part only) with nine points of explanation.
Danesh/Fletcher type PAG 3a.
Form no. P.T. 273 with imprint GPP. 15326-500.000-17.1.43.

Image: Ebay.

Unpaid Postal Order for £P1: 1940 issue with 10m poundage. Issued in Jerusalem, postmark: JERUSALEM M.O.C. / 10 NO / 47 (Sacher H16).
According to Sacher this postmark was used only until 11.11.1947.

Form P.T. 304 / RECEIPT FOR IMPORT DUTY, no. 48025, (printer's legend: 10574-1000-Bks. 15.8.27. L.J.S.P.), issued for 90 mils collected for two parcels (nos. 242 and 243) arriving from Germany. Postmark: JAFFA / * / 23 DE / 30 (Sacher B5).
The amount is covered by a vertical strip of four 10m postage due stamps (SG no. D17). The amount noted is certainly 90m, though I don't see any remains of a cancellation mark or where the additional 50m PD stamp may have stuck.